View source for 931/Opening a Window of Opportunity

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2020/04/02
|Location=Empire Glassworx
|Synopsis=There's no such thing as bad press.  Terry gets to point Lois at a story, Lois gets a story, and Nick gets publicity.  Everyone wins!
|Cast of Characters=532,563,99,339
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:532|Nick Lytton (532)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Empire Glassworx has not changed appreciatively since Terry's previous visit.&nbsp; There are a few new pieces on display, and a few gone now that were there before -- hopefully sold rather than broken.&nbsp; Even the same person is manning the shop: Ginny, with her glass mug of tea.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh, and the photocopied sign in the corner of the main window advertising the upcoming meta rights fundraiser.&nbsp; That wasn't there before, either.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The workshop is of course visible past the large interior window, if anyone cares to look.&nbsp; In the back, someone's polishing a large chunk of... well, it's hard to tell from here other than that it's almost certainly glass.&nbsp; Only one man is working at the furnaces right now, shaping delicate spheres of glass.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With his bare hands.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:563|Patty Verdon (563)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Terry had made good on his promise to Nick.&nbsp; He'd passed the word to Lois about the glassworker who was immune to heat, and about the fundraiser which would benefit greatly from some attention.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Eventually, coffee was gathered (of course it was) with optional pastries, and the dynamic duo (Terry being the sidekick, of course) made its way to Empire Glassworx.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"They've got some pretty fancy stuff in there," he says to Lois before opening the door for her, "most of it out of my pay grade, but just wait 'til you get the grand tour."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He sips on his carry-out coffee cup.&nbsp; Mmm.&nbsp; Capuccino. Water of life.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:99|Lois Lane (99)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lois Lane was never the sidekick.&nbsp; Ever.&nbsp; That's just not how it works.&nbsp; (Even Clark knew this: he was second on the byline!)&nbsp; So Lois leads the way, even if it's not her who arranged things.&nbsp; It's just the way things are done.&nbsp; Her own cup of coffee is sipped as she steps inside the building.&nbsp; She glances briefly towards the back before she looks back to Terry.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's definitely impressive to look at.&nbsp; Good name, too.&nbsp; Sounds appropriately majestic and powerful."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:532|Nick Lytton (532)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ginny looks up, smiles as she recognizes Terry, then eyes widen as she realizes who's with him—let's face it, everyone knows who Lois Lane is.&nbsp; So the coffee mug hits the countertop with a little more of a clatter than usual.&nbsp; "Oh!&nbsp; Hi!&nbsp; Can I help you?"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She automatically glances towards the back, where the guy at the furnace is… well, making little glass party balloons.&nbsp; The usual way, holding the hot glass to his lips and blowing into it.&nbsp; Blow one up, shape it a little, add it to the pile.&nbsp; "Here to see someone, or shopping, or…?" she asks, regaining her composure a little.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:563|Patty Verdon (563)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Terry grins.&nbsp; "Hi Ginny!&nbsp; Miss Lane is here to see Nick."&nbsp; The redhead glances towards the back, and nods.&nbsp; "I see he's currently blowing some hot air!"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;His coffee is good.&nbsp; He doesn't even wince at the awfulness of that joke.&nbsp; "He knows we're coming, although he might have gotten caught up in his work.&nbsp; I do that."&nbsp; No, he doesn't.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:99|Lois Lane (99)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lois offers Ginny a smile, glancing from her slowly back to Terry.&nbsp; While Ginny got a smile, Terry gets a bit of a raised eyebrow.&nbsp; Sure.&nbsp; Caught up in work.&nbsp; That sounds ''just'' like Terry.&nbsp; "Caught up in trouble you mean."&nbsp; It's a low, somewhat amused tone.&nbsp; No harm meant.&nbsp; If she meant it it'd be ''very'' obvious.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If he's in the middle of a piece or something, we can certainly wait a little.&nbsp; I know that sort of process can be delicate and I'd hate to interrupt.&nbsp; We're not pressed for time."&nbsp; Not at this moment, at least.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:532|Nick Lytton (532)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'll get him," Ginny says, explaining further, "he said he was expecting someone."&nbsp; She opens the door—music clearly turned up to eleven blasts out: o/` '''—BABY IT'S YOUR FIRE / AND BABY I HOPE YOU DON'T GET BURNED—''' o/`<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before the door closes, Ginny starts to yell over the audio assault: "NICK!&nbsp; You didn't say you were expecting Lois fu-"&nbsp; *'''BANG'''* goes the door.&nbsp; Lois 'fun interviewer' Lane.&nbsp; Yes, that's probably what she was going to say, provided lip-readers look away now.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nick puts his tray of glass balloons in an annealing oven and is pretty much right there, doesn't take him but a minute; Ginny stays in the back to do some paperwork.&nbsp; Also, the overloud music has been banished by the time he opens the door.&nbsp; "Miss Lane!"&nbsp; He offers his hand—it is not the temperature of molten glass, but it is warm.&nbsp; "Terry, nice to see you again!"&nbsp; He seems a genuinely pleasant sort—and despite his preferred music volume, not deaf.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:563|Patty Verdon (563)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I thought that trouble ''was'' work," Terry says, trying to look innocent and failing completely.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When Nick comes out, Terry greets him with a smile.&nbsp; "Hey Nick!&nbsp; I hope we weren't too early and we weren't interrupting something important."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Like in every assignment where Lois is present, Terry takes a step back—physically and dynamically.&nbsp; He is the Padawan, Lois is the Master, and he's here to learn, even if he was the factotum that connected them.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:99|Lois Lane (99)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fun interviewer?&nbsp; Furniture enthusiast?&nbsp; Fugitive chaser?&nbsp; The possibilities are endless.&nbsp; Lois does offer a friendly smile when Nick emerges, taking the offered hand.&nbsp; "It's a pleasure to meet you.&nbsp; Terry's given me a little bit of an idea of what's going on, but I'd love to hear about the event from your own words."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's a pause.&nbsp; "Also, I would like an idea of what you do around here, this place is very impressive."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:532|Nick Lytton (532)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We-e-l-ll," Nick says, "the fundraiser is something I've had kicking around the back of my mind for a while, really.&nbsp; That Pro-Morona… sorry," he corrects himself entirely insincerely, "Pro-Humana thing shoved it onto the front burner.&nbsp; I mean, the idea that art is the domain of one particular family of genetics.&nbsp; Pissed me o— ah, I mean, annoyed me quite a bit."&nbsp; That was a much more genuine correction.&nbsp; "So I use my meta to make art.&nbsp; Doesn't make it less art.&nbsp; And where's the line between a 'human' and a 'mutant' artist anyway?&nbsp; Humanity's been around a long time, but it's still produced only one Chuck Berry."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Seemingly unaware of the fact, Nick begins pacing as he talks.&nbsp; "So I want to do something that's accessible to everyone, at least conceptually.&nbsp; Not some lavish affair that could've paid for the medical care of hundreds of sick kids."&nbsp; Cheap shot, he knows, and he tries to make himself slow down a little because he can feel himself getting worked up.&nbsp; It's something he cares about.&nbsp; "So we're going to use a stretch of public beach and I'm going to make a sandcastle.&nbsp; Out of glass made on the spot from the beach sand.&nbsp; Because everyone can relate to sandcastles.&nbsp; It sounds silly… and it probably is.&nbsp; I don't care," he says with a shrug.&nbsp; "I have to do '''something'''."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He seems surprised to find himself standing in the middle of the showroom.&nbsp; "Huh.&nbsp; And as for this place, well, I'll be happy to give you the tour.&nbsp; It's really no different from any other glass studio, except that it has me."&nbsp; Smirk.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:339|Terry O'Neil (339)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You could make it a themed fundraiser.&nbsp; With a castle, you've got an image already.&nbsp; People could come dressed in their best beach royalty apparel, or something like that.&nbsp; Creativity.&nbsp; Make it a fun participatory fundraiser, unlike that ungodly ''boring'' Humana nonsense.&nbsp; I mean, the music is fine, but the company was stiffer than an ice cream social at the morgue."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Terry gives Lois the side-eye.&nbsp; He had to cover that event.&nbsp; She didn't have to.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:99|Lois Lane (99)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I like the sand castle idea.&nbsp; That actually sounds like it'd be an amazing piece of art when you're done with it," Lois says, though she gives Terry a ''look'' in response.&nbsp; "Get used to it and enjoy the food," she mutters under her breath.&nbsp; She does take a quick glance around.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"So I guess the important thing I need to know is… what's the message you're trying to send with this?&nbsp; I get that it's sort of a defense of the Pro-Humana movement, but what's the real voice of the project?&nbsp; My sense is more of equality, but you could sort of parallel the art thing that Pro-Humana was doing, perhaps make your sand castle and showcase the artwork of other artists who are using more unconventional methods of creating? Equality and individuality?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:532|Nick Lytton (532)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm hoping some other artistically inclined metas show up, and if we can collaborate on part of the structure, that'd be fantastic," Nick replies.&nbsp; "But the truth of the matter is I really hadn't thought any further than raising some money that we can send to some pro-mutant organizations and Genosha survivors, and pointing a metaphorical middle finger at the Pro-Idiota… sorry, Pro-Humana bigots."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He holds the door open leading back into the work area; the music has been turned off.&nbsp; "Some of my regular clients have sponsored parts of the construction, and hopefully we can raise a little more live at the event, and then when it's all done and I have some time to stabilize the structure, we'll auction it off as a further fundraiser."&nbsp; He picks up an irregular piece of glass from his desk and just rolls it around in his hand.&nbsp; "The dream result is to raise enough to start a scholarship fund for meta students who are majoring in the arts.&nbsp; But any sort of impact will be a good thing.&nbsp; I mean, yeah, I'm meta, but I'm still human.&nbsp; I just have a weirder talent than writing symphonies or painting or particle physics."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He hands the irregular lump of glass to Lois; it is not hot.&nbsp; "That gave me the idea, by the way.&nbsp; It was the first glass I ever made.&nbsp; We were vacationing on Lake Erie and I grabbed a handful of sand and melted it into that.&nbsp; I was 15, I think.&nbsp; We already knew I was meta, but it wasn't enough to pick out a cool name and put on a way too tight suit for.&nbsp; But '''that''' showed me there was another way."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:339|Terry O'Neil (339)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Terry ponders.&nbsp; His goal is to be as unobtrusive as possible, only offering things here and there when they might be needed.&nbsp; Lois is the pro, and she keeps the engine purring smoothly along.&nbsp; Only when the mention of other talent is brought up, does he pipe up, looking at his phone:<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You could get performers, definitely.&nbsp; Imagine… like Alison Blaire, though I think she's on hiatus or something—which is a pity because getting her to perform surrounded by a glass castle…."&nbsp; He makes a 'woosh' sound and spreads his fingers.&nbsp; "But I'm sure you can find other up and coming artists to perform."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:99|Lois Lane (99)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We could always use the article to try and recruit artists and see if you get some hits from that," Lois points out.&nbsp; "Get some interested donors and some interested artists at the same time."&nbsp; She turns the glass piece over in her hand a few times, studying it.&nbsp; "I think I was about that age when I decided I wanted to go into journalism.&nbsp; It's right about the right age."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She hands the piece back.&nbsp; "Not everyone is the type who puts on a suit.&nbsp; But we find where our own gifts, talents, and abilities lead us… and sometimes that's just as important. &nbsp;I like the idea of maybe leaning a bit more towards inspiring those who may not be so cape-clad-inclined but are still meta.&nbsp; A way to use gifts differently, and embracing that."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:532|Nick Lytton (532)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, hopefully.&nbsp; It's this weekend, so I don't know if there's enough time to get anyone else involved, but hey, maybe this can become an annual thing and just get bigger and bigger," Nick says a little dreamily, clearly thinking of future events with hundreds of attendees, rather than merely dozens.&nbsp; "I'm hoping your article does exactly that—and of course, you're both welcome to come and cover it!"&nbsp; He tosses the irregular lump of beach glass up and down casually.&nbsp; It's not a paperweight, it's an old friend.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Anyway, if either of you know someone you can send along, that would be awesome.&nbsp; Just because we're meta doesn't mean we're not normal, after all.&nbsp; I mean, I still have to pay bills every month, and put food on the table, and visit my parents and grandparents every now and then.&nbsp; I really do believe meta is just another way of being human."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:99|Lois Lane (99)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I just might.&nbsp; Maybe I'll see if Clark's got weekend plans," Lois says, a small smile on her lips.&nbsp; She's thinking about ''something''.&nbsp; "Yeah, that could be fun.&nbsp; I'll see if we can make it out and support you.&nbsp; But in the meanwhile, we've got an article to organize.&nbsp; I probably need a few more quotes from you to help frame the message right, but I think you've already done a great job.&nbsp; 'Meta is just another way of being human'… I think that'll make a big impact."<br> <br>
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